DIY Projects

8 Rustic Holiday Touches You Can Make By Hand

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Sweet and simple homemade touches are the perfect additions to a rustic Christmas setting.

Cheryl Krecsy, the creative owner of Little White House & Co. lifestyle boutiques and cafés in Fort Langley and Abbotsford, B.C., isn’t the type of person who pulls out the same old holiday decorations year after year. By sticking to muted colour palettes, reusing vintage finds and taking a totally DIY approach to the season, she’s perfected the art of reinvention. Here, we share her how-to's for eight stunning yet simple crafts that are sure to make this Christmas one for the ages.

1 Lovely Layers

Image: Janis Nicolay

Think outside the box and let your gifts act as rustic showpieces by wrapping them in perfectly imperfect layers. This token features a sweet heart cut out of burlap and a stamped kraft tag affixed with a vintage clothes peg.

2 Precious Greeting

Image: Janis Nicolay

Handcrafted cards hold much more meaning than anything you can buy. Dress up white notepaper with a small twig of boxwood made into a dainty wreath, and write a personal holiday message inside. The bespoke card is both understated and elegant.

3 String Along

Image: Janis Nicolay

Basic materials like twine and tulle look elegant when fashioned into a garland. Simply tie small pieces of white tulle onto twine and open the ends to look like bows, then wrap it around a tree or hang it on a mantel.

4 Take Note

Image: Janis Nicolay

Kraft gift tags are the perfect places to display your own festive greetings. Whether you stamp, write or paint them, these lovely labels are ideal for either hanging on your tree or topping a pile of wrapped presents that await eager family and friends.

5 Hung With Care

Image: Janis Nicolay

Repurpose your grandmother’s doilies by folding them over a piece of twine and hanging it in your window. In the sunshine, they resemble dainty falling snowflakes.

6 Something Old

Image: Janis Nicolay

Instead of buying new wrapping paper every year, try using old scraps to cover your gifts. To fashion this vintage-style rose topper, cut five curvy-edged circles, each slightly smaller than the last, then crinkle them up and glue them together.

7 Key Elements

Image: Janis Nicolay

Create your own ornaments with everyday objects. Tied with a piece of frayed linen, an old key goes from practical to cherished. You can gather finds throughout the year at vintage markets, antiques shops, thrift stores and the like.

8 Ivy League

Image: Janis Nicolay

Show off your DIY prowess by garnishing presents with sweet mini vine wreaths. A plain box with a stamped initial is all that’s needed underneath to make your handiwork shine.